Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Landfill Closure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor says Huntington landfill closure could cost $20–$30 million; DEP enforcement escalated
Summary
Mayor Farrell told council the long‑unclosed Deets Hollow/Guyandotte landfill will likely require tens of millions to close; the administration is engaging outside counsel and state legislators to identify funding and regulatory options.
Mayor Farrell told the council the city faces a multi‑million‑dollar obligation to properly close an older landfill that stopped receiving refuse decades ago, and that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has ramped up enforcement.
"In today's dollars, I anticipate it between somewhere between 20 and $30,000,000 will be required to close the landfill," Mayor Farrell said, describing long‑running notices from the DEP and the technical processes involved in capping a closed refuse site and preventing leachate from reaching nearby water.
Councilors asked whether the option of paying fines rather than performing closure work had been considered; mayor and other councilors said the city historically deferred more comprehensive action on the site and that doing nothing is increasingly expensive. The mayor said the city has been assessing options for years and is engaging legal and legislative channels to seek help and financing.
The administration described the landfill work as outside the FY2026 general‑fund scope for the meeting's presentation but said outside counsel and likely multi‑year financing or state assistance will be required. The mayor estimated the cost could have been materially lower if addressed earlier; he also said the city is exploring long‑term options rather than ad‑hoc fine payments.
Provenance: landfill briefing and follow‑up Q&A (DEP enforcement, cost estimate and options)
